The objective of this study was to examine the effect of silicon (Si) on some components of cotton resistance to tropical rust caused by Phakopsora gossypii. Cotton plants from cultivars BRS Buriti and FM 993 were grown in nutrient solution containing 0 (-Si) or 2 mmol Si L- 1 (+Si). The increase in Si concentration on leaf tissue increased the incubation period and the latent period in 9% and 14.3%, respectively and reduced the pustule area, the area under cotton leaf rust progress curve, the area under pustule progress curve by 27.5%, 36% and 22%, respectively. In +Si plants, the NP decreased by 70% and 30% and the NU by 40.3% and 19.5% for cultivars BRS Buriti and FM993, respectively. The concentration of phenolic compounds for +Si plants of cultivar BRS Buriti and FM 993 was high at 10 and 30 dai, respectively. The concentration of derivatives of lignin-thioglycolic acid increased after 20 dai for both cultivars supplied with Si. Peroxidase activity was high at 25 and 10 dai for +Si plants of cultivars BRS Buriti and FM993, respectively. Chitinase activity was high at 10 dai for +Si plants of cultivar BRS Buriti and at 10 and 20 dai for cultivar FM993.Glucanase activity was high at 10 and 20 dai for +Si plants of cultivars BRS Buriti and FM993, respectively. In conclusion, the supply of Si to cotton plants contributed to increase their resistance to rust due to the participation of the defense enzymes.
compounds of host defense; Phakopsora gossypii; resistance
